Green Options

With the Thanksgiving Holiday just a few days away, you are probably focusing on how to have a green Thanksgiving. I have enjoyed reading tips and ideas from around the Green Options network and the blogosphere. Here are some of my favorite green Thanksgiving posts.

There are plenty of ways in which you can get the kids involved in helping you with your Green Thanksgiving plans. I sent mine off to the park with instructions to collect whatever would look great on the table. Watch this video to see what they came up with.

VOTING NOW, is more important than ever, can’t you see? Do you disagree with some of the ads we’ve been viewing? Want to see YOUR voice matter? Learn the issues, and VOTE!

OK, enough shouting, here are some places around the ecosphere to get psyched up about getting to the polls yourself (shown above top to bottom) ~

Alright, when your organization name sounds like poetry about nature you’ve caught my attention, and fall never sounded so lovely:

“Mountains of the Moon clothing is created with the conscious fashionista in mind - those of us who care about the environment and fair labor practices who also want to look good in what we wear. From start to finish, our garments are designed, patterned, manufactured, dyed and tagged (using eco-friendly materials) in the USA in small, 100% sweatshop-free facilities that are family owned and operated. We choose to use eco-friendly materials like hemp, tencel and organic cotton that are known for durability and long-life..”

How do they accomplish such eco-style and sophistication?

Happy Halloween! As you celebrate the holiday with your best eco-friendly costumes, don’t forget to enter the Green Halloween Costume Contest — Deadline: Midnight Tonight!

Though you may not be able to celebrate like Heidi Klum and Seal (above as Eve and the apple), who threw their yearly bash earlier this month, you can still party hard with some last minute D.I.Y environmental Halloween costumes.

This past spring we featured an exclusive interview with Nau, only to discover a week later, to our surprise and theirs, that they would be going out of business… Luckily now, with the backing of Horny Toad, Nau has completely revived its business as unusual! Climbing into fall with functional and fashionable styles, Nau continues to be an inspiration. Their admirable redesigned site highlights the library of collective stories about sustainability, “thought kitchen” blog, “grey matters” and Partners for Change initiatives.

As mentioned by Emma earlier this month Coco Eco is here!

The online preview is amazing. Read more about the launch details over at Organic Beauty View. With cityscape sunsets as the back drop and gorgeously staged styles, the look of the fashion spreads are spectacular. The make-up features courtesy of Future Natural are stunning and vibrant. The ads

As summer rolls into fall and fall goes screaming into winter, one’s culinary palate yearns for the muted flavors of  braises and stews, the consoling warmth of roasts and for me, the comfort of fried chicken. Yes, I said Fried Chicken.

This isn’t your aunt Flo’s fried chicken. Call it Uncle Thomas’ fried chicken - Thomas Keller, that is.

I’ve adapted a Lemon-Brined, Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe originally published in the October 2007 Food & Wine magazine from Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc restaurant in Yountville, California.

Almost like a second spring, fall brings the promise of a fresh start because as leaves fall and dance with our feet, branches create new patterns in the sky. In this spirit, wear this surplus pressed wool felt pattern on your beautiful branches:

UM TOTE:

“As tall as a bottle of wine — as wide as a bundled-up Sunday Times..

UMs totes developed from two creative challenges: The first, to make use of the unique properties of pressed wool felt, and the second, to transform a flat surface into a volume using only the simplest of operations. When unzipped, UMs lay completely flat for cleaning and easy storage — and when zipped, they become inspired forms with inherent functionality.”

The totes are sewn with:

Big bags are in and the bigger the better!  Find yours here:  

1). Thrush Bag by Ashley Watson $345 (Recycled Leather) 

Made of soft, worn leather rescued from leather jackets found in charity thrift shops, celebs have been spotted toting these fab bags.   

2). The Market Bag by Moop $113 (Organic Cotton)

Handmade, sweatshop-free bags made to order.  This company prides themselves on quality craftsmenship to be sure you’re bag will last.  Their newly launched ‘Organics’ line offers a midnight blue bag with more colors promised soon.  

Along with boosting my personal care regiment with more hydrating products, I have another secret weapon for surviving colder days ahead. As a California girl, I never had to think of these things as it was not long ago that I strolled in flip flops on the Huntington Beach pier on Christmas Day in 70 degree weather watching surfers (with Santa hats) ride the waves. Now, a couple years later, I’m becoming all too familiar with some items that are essential for making it through colder days. One such item is knee highs. I never used to wear them but now they are a must.  Fall is here which means weather, leaves are wardrobes are changing.